devotion

School started this week which has made life way too busy for my taste. Regardless, it's what I do. My favorite class this semester will probably be my special topics psych class called the Psychology of Caring for Your Soul. We will be reading through 2 books and talking about spiritual disciplines - ironic that my church is going through the same thing at the same time? Probably not... I hope to learn much in this class that is truly relavent to my life. I love having a class that will make my walk with God deeper and strengthen my faith rather than bog me down with pointless memorizing.

One thing that bothered me this week was, to put it generally, legalism. Growing up in a Christian school and various churches, I've heard so many people talk about how important it is to have devotions every day. "Have devotions" - what does that even mean? Devotion to me means dedication, faithfulness, promising to be diligent, persevering. Synonyms (thank you dictionary.com) are zeal and ardor, fervor, passion. Yet when I think of "do devotions" it carries a negative, dutiful connotation. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe it's the idea that's been portrayed to me that being devoted to God means reading the Bible, maybe another book which they choose for me, writing down prayer requests when people make them known, and praying before you eat. (None of these people who gave me this idea would actually come out and say that those things are what makes up Christianity, but that's how it comes across.) Why don't I associate "passion, fervor, zeal" with devotions?

One thing said in my Care for the Soul class was something about getting away from the concept that I must read my Bible every single day in order to be a good Christian, and clinging to the idea that God is always with me. Sometimes life happens and you can't spend hours each day studying the Word. That doesn't mean God loves us any less or isn't as present with us as He could be.

When doing things, "disciplines" as I'm coming to call them, to pursue godliness becomes boring, monotonous, and unenthusiastic, I need to reevaluate what it is I'm pursuing. I've tried reading a book and writing my thoughts down and getting it signed off by youth leader each week - that didn't satisfy me. What deeply satisfies is pursuing a Person who gives truth and grace.

This video also crossed my path (and by path I mean facebook news feed) this week. I feel it's relavent...

(Also, read this about it... http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/01/13/does-jesus-hate-religion-kinda-sorta-not-really/ ) I had my doubts when I watched it about the truthfulness of each and every phrase, but decided I like what this guy is trying to say. While definitions of words DO matter, in a person's own creative work... isn't it okay to define it relatively? maybe...